10:30-12:00: Equal Justice Conference Sessions of Special Interest to ATJ Chairs
State Funding Roundtable: An Update on 2004 Legislative Activities and Ideas for the Future.
Every year, state legislative work by legal services advocates around the country provides us with
insights for designing future strategies for obtaining state funding. This roundtable will feature speakers
who have first hand experience working with their legislatures in the early months of the 2004 session,
providing an introduction to a discussion about strategies for the months and years ahead.
Ethical Rules and Pro Bono Policy Updates from Around the Nation. Learn about developing pro
bono policy initiatives in your state with the goal of increasing pro bono activity. Attendees will hear
success stories about the passage and implementation of mandatory pro bono reporting rules in
Maryland and Nevada; the revision of the Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct to encourage judges to
participate more freely in supporting pro bono work; and the development of the Office of Justice
Initiatives in the New York State Courts, which convened a series of pro bono convocations aimed at
increasing attorney pro bono participation in the state.
Pro Bono Post-Reconfiguration: Strategies for Moving Forward. The state plan is written, programs
have merged, the dust is settling how can the legal community move pro bono forward? Panelists will
discuss a variety of efforts - from the program level to statewide - to promote and advance pro bono postreconfiguration.
So You Don’t Do Media…Why You Must and How You Can! Effective use of media results in better
service to clients by educating the public, improving fundraising and increasing political support. Join us
for this energetic session on planning and preparation, audience identification, and message
development and delivery, led by a panel of seasoned pros from programs that shine at getting and
making the most of media attention. (While this session focuses on program-based media strategies, its
lessons will be equally applicable to statewide Access to Justice efforts.)
1:45-3:15 pm: Networking/Small Group Discussion Sessions
Do We Need a More Formal Access to Justice Structure in Our State? (special small group
discussion session for ATJ Chairs meeting participants). Leaders from states with a Access to Justice
Commission or have recently decided to create one will discuss and answer questions about the benefits
and risks associated with creation of a formal structure and potential challenges along the way.
Statewide Coalitions and Communications Campaigns to Support Civil Legal Aid
(special small group discussion session for ATJ Chairs meeting participants). This informal discussion
session will provide an opportunity for states engaged in statewide efforts to build support and expand
resources for civil legal assistance to share strategies and ideas and learn from one another.
Deep South Regional Discussion (special small group discussion session for ATJ Chairs meeting
participants). Leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi will discuss shared problems
and strategies for moving forward. (Participants from other states facing similar issues welcome to join.)
Statewide Pro Bono: Policies and Structures (Equal Justice Conference networking session of special
interest to ATJ Chairs meeting participants). During this networking session participants will discuss the
latest statewide policy developments and new structural initiatives designed to expand pro bono activity.
Pro bono reporting, circuit court pro bono committees, CLE credit for pro bono work and Model Rule 6.1
will be among the topics discussed. Please come prepared to report on what is happening in your state
and to learn about what others are doing around the country.
Rural Consortium Networking Session (Equal Justice Conference networking session of special
interest to ATJ Chairs meeting participants).The Rural Consortium will gather leaders in rural delivery to
share ideas and develop strategies to improve the delivery of legal services to rural communities across
the country. Come learn about developments in rural pro bono, funding and resource allocation and staffbased delivery innovations. Updates on the creation of a national rural justice center and a national rural
advocacy network will also be discussed.
3:30-5:00: Equal Justice Conference Sessions of Special Interest to ATJ Chairs
Access to Justice Partnerships: Innovations and Successes. This interactive roundtable session will
showcase recent accomplishments and/or innovative efforts by state Access to Justice Commissions or
similar entities that bring together the bar, the courts, legal aid providers, and other stakeholders to
expand access to justice for low-income people. Share successes from your state and learn about other
states successes.
Balancing the Scales of Justice: Working with the Judiciary to Promote Pro Bono. Drawing on
examples from Las Vegas and Boston, this panel will include members of the judiciary and pro bono
program staff who have worked together to develop pro bono projects and improve pro bono client
services. Come learn practical tips on setting up pro bono initiatives and working more effectively with the
judiciary to recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys.
Using Pro Bono to Increase Rural Delivery of Legal Services. How can programs involve more
volunteer lawyers in the delivery of legal services to rural America? Panelists will explore successful
partnerships and delivery initiatives aimed at addressing the legal needs of rural clients and their
communities. The workshop will also discuss projects and strategies highlighted in the ABA Center for
Pro Bono's 2003 publication Rural Pro Bono Delivery: A Guide to Pro Bono Legal Services in Rural
Areas, and discuss findings and strategies developed at a recent conference on rural delivery sponsored
by the Legal Services Corporation.
Limited Assistance Versus Extended Representation: Can They Co-Exist? This session will examine
the application of partnerships formed to provide disaster legal assistance to the legal services delivery
system. Panelists will discuss the lessons learned in developing a response to disaster-related legal
needs and how those lessons can be carried over to developing a stronger delivery system that
encompasses and integrates staffed legal services, pro bono programs, the private bar and other
providers.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs: Paving the Way to Public Service. Loan repayment
assistance programs ("LRAPS") have emerged as an important approach to addressing educational debt
burden faced by law graduates interested in pursuing public interest legal careers. This session will
provide an opportunity to learn about statewide and employer initiated LRAP programs, as well as law
school efforts in this arena. An update on pending federal legislation will also be presented
Locating and Serving Hidden Client Populations. Increasingly, the plight of immigrant and other
populations not traditionally aware of or served by legal services programs is receiving attention. This
session will examine how to identify, locate, conduct outreach to, and serve non-traditional client
populations through projects involving pro bono attorneys and other volunteers. Panelists will describe
collaborative projects developed to reach out to underserved populations.
Tapping the Pro Bono Resources of Large Law Firms and Corporations for Immigrant
Representation. This session will highlight examples of how non-profit organizations have partnered with
large law firms and corporations to expand their capacity to represent immigrant clients in asylum cases,
detention, juvenile proceedings, policy advocacy and other matters.